Wednesday 20 June 2012 14.06 EDT
First published on Wednesday 20 June 2012 14.06 EDT

Aidan O'Brien can maintain his winning momentum by sending out Fame And Glory to a second victory in the Gold Cup, highlight of Ladies' Day at Royal Ascot. The champion Irish trainer was adamant that he should shoulder the blame for the chequered European career of So You Think after the horse's admirable triumph in the Prince of Wales's Stakes on Wednesday, one of two winners for O'Brien on the day, but he deserves only credit for the decision to send Fame And Glory over marathon distances.

The trainer realised that the Irish Derby winner would be capable of mopping up Group One contests in this sphere before his ultimate retirement to stud. The staying division in Britain isn't as keenly contested as it once was.

Still, this doesn't look a bad Gold Cup, with improving youngsters such as Colour Vision and Saddlers Rock in opposition. However, Fame And Glory is a high-class performer who answered doubts when winning this race so convincingly 12 months ago and it will take a good one to bring him down.

O'Brien was talking of worries over soft ground on Wednesday, but he must have forgotten that conditions were clearly on the slow side when Fame And Glory comprehensively outboxed Opinion Poll in last year's race.

2.30 Norfolk Stakes Northern-trained horses have taken this race five times in the last 14 years and David Barron's Ahern may be able to continue that interesting trend. Barron rarely hands out praise with profligacy and for him to describe this colt as "quite good" is probably a very positive sign. He looked thoroughly professional when winning on his debut at Musselburgh earlier this month and the runner-up, Satsuma, was only just off the pace in Wednesday's Queen Mary Stakes.

3.05 Ribblesdale Stakes Oaks runners have a dreadful record when coming on to this contest but I simply find it impossible to overlook the claims of The Fugue, who frankly should have won at Epsom but fell victim to a mixture of bad luck and poor judgement. She went into the Oaks having had a fairly tough campaign already and there is an obvious risk it will catch up with her soon, but I'd still rather be with a filly of her class than against. Princess Highway's dam won this race and she certainly seems to have inherited a similar level of ability. She must be a danger in a hot contest.

4.25 Britannia Handicap A late non-runner at York last weekend, Van Ellis might be ruled out again if the going turns soft but his trainer, Mark Johnston, thinks very highly of this colt, who was far from disgraced against his elders at Chester last time. He has a high cruising speed and will be even better suited by racing on this straight course. Mississippi and Born To Surprise, both of whom disappointed last time but are capable of much better, rank among the many dangers.

5.00 Tercentenary Stakes German-trained runners are often underestimated in Britain and Energizer may offer some value, despite finishing close up in the German 2,000 Guineas last time out. There are mixed messages from his pedigree but most sons of Monsun require this sort of trip to show their best form. The likes of Wrotham Heath and Mukhadram need to find considerable improvement as they move into pattern-race company, but both are capable of making the necessary progress.